Die NaturwissenschaftenJun 2, 2025

Ganoderma lucidum sugar compounds may improve learning, memory, and gut bacteria in mice with aging caused by D-galactose

Gut-Brain Axis Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Feb 18, 2026

Abstract

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide (GLP) significantly shortened the latency of aging mice in finding a safe platform in a water maze experiment.

D-galactose (D-gal) administration induces learning and memory impairment in aging mice.
GLP enhances antioxidant enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, in mouse brain tissue.
GLP increases levels of neurotransmitters, specifically glutamate and acetylcholine, while decreasing malondialdehyde and gamma-aminobutyric acid.
Alterations in intestinal microbiota were observed, particularly an increase in Lactobacillus abundance following GLP treatment.
GLP may improve cognitive function by modifying gut microbiota and influencing metabolic pathways related to brain health.

Simplified

Learning and memory impairment is one of the main manifestations of cognitive impairment. Gut flora can affect cognitive function and behavior through the gut-brain axis. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide (GLP) is one of the main effective components of G. lucidum, with antioxidant and anti-aging effects. In this study, the learning and memory impairment model of aging mice was established by injecting D-galactose (D-gal). The learning and memory ability of mice was tested by a water maze experiment. Also, the biochemical indexes of mouse serum and brain tissue were determined. In addition, 16S rRNA sequencing was performed on mouse feces. The results showed that GLP significantly shortened the latency of mice to find a safe platform. Also, they enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities, increased glutamate (Glu) and acetylcholine (ACh) contents, and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) contents in mice to improve antioxidant capacity, remove free radicals, and reduce lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress, thereby improving learning and memory disorders in mice. The analysis of the microflora after the intervention of GLP to improve learning and memory disorders in mice revealed changes in Lactobacillus abundance. In conclusion, D-gal causes learning memory impairment and reduced intestinal microbial diversity in aging mice, whereas GLP may ameliorate learning memory impairment by altering the distribution of Lactobacillus in the intestinal tract of mice and regulating the biosynthesis of peptidoglycan and secondary bile acids.

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Funding

Competing interests

Declarations. Ethics approval: Animal experiments were approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Beihua University (BHAH20220034), and animal procedures were strictly carried out according to the legislation for the care and use of laboratory animals of China. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

PubMed

Ganoderma lucidum sugar compounds may improve learning, memory, and gut bacteria in mice with aging caused by D-galactose

Abstract

Full Text

Funding

Competing interests

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